Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with colic due to nephrosplenic entrapment - surgery details
By Krueger, Clarisa R & Klohnen, Andreas·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2015·Elgin Veterinary Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Surgical correction of nephrosplenic entrapment of the large colon in 3 horses via standing left flank laparotomy.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three horses suffering from severe colic due to nephrosplenic entrapment (a condition where the large colon becomes trapped) were treated with a standing left flank surgery. The horses had not improved with medical treatment, so the surgery was performed while they were sedated but still standing. All three horses recovered well and were discharged within 48 to 72 hours, returning to their normal activities within a month. One horse did experience a mild fever after surgery, but overall, the procedure was successful and allowed for a quicker recovery compared to traditional surgery under general anesthesia.
People also search for: horse colic treatment · nephrosplenic entrapment surgery · standing flank surgery for horses
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a technique for surgical correction of nephrosplenic entrapment via standing left flank laparotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Horses (n = 3). METHODS: Nephrosplenic entrapment was diagnosed by abdominal palpation per rectum in all 3 horses and confirmed by transabdominal ultrasonography in 2 horses. Duration of colic was variable and failed to resolve after medical management, phenylephrine administration, and jogging. With sedation and local analgesia, standing left flank laparotomy using a modified grid approach was performed to correct the entrapment. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone communication with trainers or owners. RESULTS: Nephrosplenic entrapment was successfully corrected in all horses; postoperative fever occurred in 1 horse. Horses were discharged after 48-72 hours and returned to previous use within 30 days. CONCLUSION: Standing flank laparotomy is an alternative for horses with nephrosplenic entrapment unresponsive to medical therapy when general anesthesia and exploratory celiotomy are not an option because of financial constraints or a high anesthetic risk. This approach leads to a favorable outcome, reduces hospital stay and associated costs and leads to a rapid return to function.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25307802/